“Hawaii senators hold prayer despite vote to end it”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “A group of nine Hawaii senators held hands, bowed their heads and sought God’s blessing Wednesday, signaling that they’ll still pray despite a vote last week to abandon official invocations. Fears of court challenges compelled the state Senate to end prayers, making it the first legislative body in the nation to do so.”

“By skipping Obama speech, justices bring politics to court”: The Boston Globe contains this editorial today.

“Closed door Wisconsin Supreme Court meeting riles some justices; Public sessions set on disputes over finances, rules”: This article appears today in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“Duffly is narrowly approved for SJC”: The Boston Globe today contains an article that begins, “Governor Deval Patrick’s Supreme Judicial Court nominee won narrow approval yesterday, averting potential embarrassment to the governor on a pick that few saw as controversial when she was initially chosen.”

And The Associated Press reports that “Governor’s Council approves Duffly for Mass. SJC.”

“Geography could be factor for nominators”: In today’s edition of The Des Moines Register, Grant Schulte has an article that begins, “Some members of the state panel that nominates finalists to the Iowa Supreme Court suggested this week they will consider applicants from outside the Des Moines area as a way to add geographic diversity to the bench.”

“Senate Democrats Drop Campaign to Limit Filibuster”: This article appears today in The New York Times.

“Court says it can’t force vote on chief justices; Federal panel said it had no jurisdiction over claims Pawlenty’s appointments circumvented right to vote”: The Minneapolis Star Tribune has this news update.

My earlier coverage of today’s Eighth Circuit ruling appears at this link.

“Appeals court to expedite Virginia healthcare challenges”: Reuters has this report.

The Virginian-Pilot has a news update headlined “Va.’s health care lawsuit hearing to be expedited.”

And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Health care appeal moved up.”

“President Obama Nominates Judge Henry F. Floyd for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit”: The White House issued this news release today.

The Associated Press reports that “SC’s Floyd picked for 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.”

And at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times,” David Ingram has a post titled “Obama Nominates Judge Who Ruled in Padilla Case.”

“Prop. 8 opponents ask California high court to reject federal court’s request for ruling; The request involves initiative supporters’ right to defend a ballot measure when state officials refuse to do so”: Maura Dolan has this article today in The Los Angeles Times.

“Appeals court rejects judicial elections challenge”: The Associated Press has a report that begins, “A federal appeals court has rejected a challenge to Minnesota rules for electing judges and its mandatory retirement age for judges.”

You can access today’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit at this link.

“Be bold, justice candidates told”: In today’s edition of The Des Moines Register, Grant Schulte has an article that begins, “The three new justices who are appointed to the state’s highest court should be able and willing to challenge other justices’ legal arguments, Iowa Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins said Tuesday.”

“McKenna is named to state’s high court; The state judge garners praise for her people skills and competence”: Ken Kobayashi has this article today in The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. The article reports, among other things, that “McKenna would be the first openly gay member of the Hawaii Supreme Court.”

“Emanuel back on ballot — for now”: Abdon M. Pallasch and Fran Spielman have this article today in The Chicago Sun-Times. Pallasch also has a profile of the Justices serving on the Supreme Court of Illinois.

The Chicago Tribune reports today that “State Supreme Court gives Emanuel a reprieve; Justices order his name on the ballot for now, agree to expedited review.”

The New York Times reports that “Emanuel Back on Ballot; Court Will Hear Case.”

And The Washington Post reports that “Emanuel’s mayoral bid gets boost from Obama.”

“Senate nears approval of filibuster changes”: Today’s edition of The Washington Post contains an article that begins, “The Senate edged closer Tuesday to resolving a standoff over the chamber’s arcane rules after leaders presented a set of modest changes designed to satisfy a group of junior Democrats who are pushing to dramatically revamp the filibuster process.”

“Rights groups back Sikh man in fight over his beard”: This article appears today in The Sacramento Bee. The article reports that “U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, then on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, ruled in 1999 that a New Jersey fire department was required to accommodate Muslim firefighters who wore beards for religious reasons.”

“Guantanamo detainee’s sentence renews debate about civilian trials; The first civilian trial of a Guantanamo detainee prompted questions about whether civilian court is the best place for alleged terrorists”: The Christian Science Monitor has this report.

“New seatfellows might have made the speech more appealing to justices”: That’s the headline of Al Kamen’s “In the Loop” column in today’s edition of The Washington Post.

“Judge Posner Criticizes the Bluebook (the Most Popular Legal Citation Format Manual)”: At “The Volokh Conspiracy,” Eugene Volokh has this post about a book review essay that Seventh Circuit Judge Richard A. Posner has in the January 2011 issue of The Yale Law Journal.

“U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of Ohio woman assaulted by prison guard”: This article appears today in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Supplemental reply brief filed in Third Circuit en banc case challenging certification of a nationwide, state-law, indirect-purchaser antitrust class action seeking to recover monopoly overcharge damages: Moments ago, I filed this supplemental reply brief for appellant in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in response to class counsel’s lengthy supplemental brief for appellee filed earlier this month.

The Third Circuit requested supplemental briefing in an order that the court issued after granting rehearing en banc. The supplemental brief for appellant that I filed last month can be accessed here. Additional background on the case can be accessed here and here. The case will be reargued en banc next month.

“6 justices to attend Obama speech Tuesday night”: Mark Sherman of The Associated Press has a report that begins, “Chief Justice John Roberts will lead a contingent of six Supreme Court justices at President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech, quieting speculation that only Democratic appointees to the court would attend.”

“Scalia meets with tea party House members”: The Los Angeles Times has this news update.

The Associated Press reports that “Scalia addresses tea party-organized event.”

And Politico.com reports that “Antonin Scalia charms Tea Party caucus.”

“Thomas Says He Erred on Disclosure”: Tuesday’s edition of The New York Times will contain an article that begins, “Under pressure from liberal critics, Justice Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court acknowledged in filings released on Monday that he erred by not disclosing his wife’s past employment as required by federal law.”

And in Tuesday’s edition of The Wall Street Journal, David B. Rivkin Jr. and Lee A. Casey will have an op-ed entitled “Common Cause v. Scalia and Thomas: The liberal lobby tries to quiet two conservative voices.” You can freely access the full text of the op-ed via Google News.

“Obama Names Verrilli for Solicitor General Post”: Marcia Coyle has this entry at “The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times.”

Evan Perez of The Wall Street Journal has a news update headlined “Obama to Nominate White House Lawyer Verrilli as Solicitor General.”

At “The Caucus” blog of The New York Times, Charlie Savage has a post titled “Obama Selects Donald Verrilli as Solicitor General.”

Pete Yost of The Associated Press reports that “White House lawyer picked to be solicitor general.”

Greg Stohr of Bloomberg News reports that “Verrilli Chosen by Obama to Be Solicitor General After Kagan.”

And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Verrilli chosen for SG post.”

“Rahm Emanuel booted off ballot in 2-1 Appellate Court decision”: Abdon M. Pallasch of The Chicago Sun-Times has this news update.

The Chicago Tribune has a news update headlined “Court: Emanuel should be removed from mayoral ballot.”

And The Associated Press has a report headlined “Court: Emanuel’s name can’t be on mayoral ballot.”

You can access today’s ruling of the Illinois Appellate Court at this link.

Ninth Circuit holds that federal law does not preempt state law failure-to-warn claims against generic drug manufacturers: You can access today’s ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit at this link.

“W.H. may allow new tribunals”: Josh Gerstein of Politico.com has an article that begins, “The Obama administration, with its plan to close Guantanamo largely stymied, is edging toward one option that is still available: trying detainees in military commissions at the island prison, according to officials and outside analysts.”

“Jared Loughner case: Defense attorney gets juries to see other side.” This article appears today in The Arizona Republic, along with a related article headlined “Tough prosecutor welcomes tough cases.”

“Tea time for Antonin Scalia”: Politico.com has this report.

“A Taxonomy of Supreme Court Humor”: Adam Liptak will have this new installment of his “Sidebar” column in Tuesday’s edition of The New York Times.

“Battle Over Obama Health Care Law: A Legal Primer; Can Government Require You to Buy Medical Insurance?” Ariane de Vogue has this in-depth report at ABCNews.com.

“Chuck Schumer warns of ‘crisis’ in Judiciary”: Mike Allen has this article at Politico.com.

Access online today’s Order List and decisions in argued cases of the U.S. Supreme Court: The Court today issued three decisions in argued cases.

1. Justice Sonia Sotomayor delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court in Chase Bank USA, N.A. v. McCoy, No. 09-329. You can access the oral argument via this link.

2. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg delivered the opinion of the Court in Ortiz v. Jordan, No. 09-737. Justice Clarence Thomas issued an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Justices Antonin Scalia and Anthony M. Kenendy joined. You can access the oral argument via this link.

3. Justice Scalia delivered the opinion of the Court in Thompson v. North American Stainless, LP, No. 09-291. All Justices joined in the opinion except for Justice Elena Kagan, who did not take part in the decision. Justice Ginsburg issue a concurring opinion in which Justice Stephen G. Breyer joined. You can access the oral argument via this link.

Lastly, the Court issued a summary per curiam reversal in Swarthout v. Cooke, No. 10-333. Justice Ginsburg issued a concurring opinion.

You can access today’s Order List at this link. The Court today granted review in two cases and called for the views of the Solicitor General’s Office in one case.

In early news coverage, The Associated Press has reports headlined “Court says company can’t fire employee’s fiancee“; “Court: Chase could increase interest rates“; “High court rules for prison victim of sex assault“; and “High court rejects farmer who tangled with Tyson.”

And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Scope of Miranda in jail.”

“Farmer who tangled with Tyson asks high court help”: Mark Sherman of The Associated Press has this report.